Overcompensating - A Defence Mechanism

Keesha

Keesha

🐟
Location
Canada 🇨🇦
Meaning : Overcompensation is a defence mechanism used to shadow ones inadequacies by excelling in another field in order to feel superior.


Our actions, behaviour and how we express ourselves is an extension of our personality and is not only expressed by our conscious mind in what we see and hear but by our subconscious mind also. This makes our behaviour have many layers to it as does our personality and overcompensating is used as a defence mechanism .


A defence mechanism are coping techniques or skills used to lesson the intensity of unwanted stimuli ( unpleasant feelings that threaten our mental well being). Without these defence strategies our mental health would be compromised.


Compensation means to cover up for ones inadequacies and feelings of inferiority by excelling in another area to gain gratification. Overcompensating is therefore a driving force in a power struggle to excel, dominant and control others in order to feel superior and is detrimental to ones behaviour and personality.


Feelings of weakness and inferiority that one tries to overcompensate for could be real or imagined but either way it’s roots are always found in childhood. A person who cannot deal with feelings of inadequacy or inferiority will strive for excellence in other areas in order to redeem them self in their own eyes and that of the world. Driven by this need the person goes in search of things they can excel in so that their inadequacies get overshadowed. After a while , this driving force becomes part of their personality that they are no longer aware of and can have detrimental effects, therefore overcompensating is considered a negative technique since it doesn’t address the main issues of inferiority.


People who use this technique are so driven with excelling in their accomplishments that they do not learn to socialize properly, so the problem continues to thrive.


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This is ME!!!! I’m an overcompensator.
Since I was a child I never felt good enough so I have been driven to excel in other areas to try to overshadow the fact that I’m majorly inferior in other areas.


This is like my entire personality in a nutshell; trying to impress others!
It’s just coming to the forefront now.


Have you ever suddenly recognized something about yourself that you really don’t like?
 

I think that it is normal to overcompensate for things that were missing from your life growing up or even as an adult.

Like so many things in life it only becomes a problem when it is carried to the extreme.

The big thing is to understand it, accept it and learn to laugh about it when it appears.
 

I've always enjoyed a good lookin' woman with low self esteem....

seriously
don't overthink it
yer fine...great actually

go outside
ya knucklehead
 
Keesha said:
Have you ever suddenly recognized something about yourself that you really don’t like?
Click to expand...

YES!!!

I don't like my big toe
It's got half a nail, of which is thick as a horse hoof and requires a utility knife and hand saw to keep pared down.....but only after soaking in the tub for a half hour
 
Hahaha. Some of you know me so well.
:laugh:


The other day I saw a thread about people with over inflated self esteem and wondered if I came across as arrogant and conceded so of course I over thought the entire thing and found yet another way to critically self judge.


I came to the final conclusion that if it is the case then I’m better off having too much self esteem than not enough.


Perhaps others go through moments of self doubt. They just don’t publicize it.


Thanks guys :thankyou1:
 
Perhaps such a person is truly accomplished in the other area? I'll paraphrase a well-known talk show host who said one day: "when you're at your best, you don't need anyone to tell you".
Others who are intimidated or threatened will need to do some of their own introspection. But they probably won't, tribes being what they are;).
So there!
 


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